The first leg of the Mini-Transat was an unprecedented thriller - and led to controversy. Due to a storm off Cape Finisterre, the field of participants had been advised to take shelter in harbours. With the exception of four participants in the prototypes and three in the production boats, all adhered to this recommendation. Melwin Fink's hussar ride secured him the lead in the series boats with a lead of over a day, which almost meant overall victory.
However, 19 competitors lodged a protest against the race organisers and an international jury has now ruled in their favour. According to the jury, the race committee's recommendations, information or advice to the competitors to seek shelter in the nearest harbour were vague and imprecise and therefore not clearly understandable for the competitors.
The protesters, who included German Lennart Burke, had argued that it was not clear whether these were recommendations or instructions and what the consequences would have been if they had not been followed.
The jury apparently followed these arguments and decided that this was an inadequate measure on the part of the race organisers. As a result, all 80 skippers involved will receive compensation in the form of a 24-hour time credit.
However, this time bonus does not affect the first four boats in the prototype ranking. Nor does it affect the sailors who decided to continue sailing after the weather report was sent out by the race organisers, namely Piers Copham (719 - Voiles des Anges), Melwin Fink (920 - SingForCom) and Christian Kargl (980 - All Hands On Deck). Kargl also stopped, but only for five hours and the jury categorised this as a technical pit stop after an electronics blackout, which he would have had to make anyway.
The decision changes the podium positions only slightly, nothing changes in the prototypes, Melwin Fink also remains first in the series boats, Christian Kargl slips to third place and has to let Hugo Dhallenne (979 - YC Saint Lunaire) pass him. However, Fink is now only 1 hour and 52 minutes ahead of Dhallenne.
The decision was good news for French rider Camille Bertel (900 - Cap Ingelec). She originally finished the stage outside the time limit, but will now be classified again.
The start of the second stage is on 29 October.
